IDPA Scoring

Scoring in IDPA is fairly straightforward. It’s based on time, with lower times being better. You’ll often find, particularly in major matches, that hundredths, or even thousandths, of a second can make the difference between finishing first and finishing back in the pack. So this is clearly a sport where seconds count.

Raw time

Your score for a stage begins with raw time. That’s the time that elapses from the moment the buzzer sounds until you fire your last shot on the stage. If you get good center-mass or head shots on every target, your raw time will be your time for the stage. If not, you’ll be assessed...

Points down penalties

The IDPA target is divided into three scoring zones, marked -0, -1, and -3. These numbers refer to “points down,” from the total points available for the target and are used as a convention to simplify scoring. All you need to know is that each “point down” adds 1/2 second to your raw time for the stage. Put all your shots in the -0 zone and you are assessed no penalties. If you have one shot in the -0 and one in the -1, you have one point down and 1/2 second added. A hit in the -3 zone (3 points down) adds 1 1/2 seconds, and so on. And here’s another catch. If you engage a target and fail to put at least one round into either the -0 or -1 zones, you are assessed the dreaded...

Failure to neutralize penalty

If you haven’t put a round into either the -0 or -1 zone, you have not neutralized the threat—the bad guy can still fight back. The failure to neutralize (FTN) penalty adds a whopping 5 seconds to your time. This is one case when it makes sense to take a “make-up” shot if you need to in order to avoid an FTN.

Hit on a non-threat

Don’t shoot the unarmed guy (the target with open hands). Each hit on a non-threat target adds 5 seconds to your time (for example, 2 hits on a non-threat adds 10 seconds). Also, if a round goes through a threat target and strikes a non-threat target (a “shoot-through”), you get credit for the hit on the threat, but you will be penalized for all hits on the non-threat.

Procedural penalties

Procedural errors (PEs), usually referred to as “procedurals,” add 3 seconds to your raw time. Most procedurals are assessed because a competitor doesn’t follow the instructions as outlined in the COF description and walkthrough. That could mean failing to do a specified reload, engaging targets out of order, shooting from a stationary position when you should be moving—the list goes on and on. If you make sure that you are familiar with IDPA rules and that you understand the COF, you’ll be OK. You’ll still get procedurals—everyone does—but you’ll be OK.

Failure to do right penalty

The Failure to do right (FTDR) is a 20-second “match-killer” penalty added to your raw time. Quoting from the IDPA rulebook,

the FTDR is assessed for any attempt to circumvent or compromise the spirit or rationale of any stage by the use of inappropriate devices, equipment or techniques. [It] is assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct, unfair actions, or the use of illegal equipment, which, in the opinion of the [match director], tends to make a travesty of the defensive shooting sport.

FTDRs are rare, but they do occur. Just follow the rules and abide by the principles of fair play and you’ll be fine.

Disqualification

A shooter may be disqualified from a match for a number of safety-related violation. For example, pointing a gun, loaded or empty, at yourself or any other person is grounds for disqualification. Dropping a loaded gun results in an automatic disqualification. Handling your gun when you are not the shooter and are not either in a safe area or under the supervision of a safety officer will get you disqualified. A reckless disregard for the safety of yourself and others will also result in disqualification. The last thing we want is to disqualify a shooter from a match, but the safety of everyone who shoots with us is our first priority.

Final scores

Each competitor has a score sheet on which his or her times and penalties are recorded for each stage. At the end of the match, the score sheets are collected, and the times and penalties are entered into a software program that calculates and prints the final results sorted by division and classification. These results are e-mailed to everyone in the Brock’s Gap IDPA database and are posted on this site. That’s where you’ll see how you fared against others at a similar skill level using similar equipment.